Survey for National Infrastructure Commissions shows airports a very low priority for spending

Date added: January 23, 2016

A recent survey, done for the new National Infrastructure Commission, shows that aviation was not regarded as a high investment priority for the UK. The survey, by Copper Consultancy in June 2015, asked 2,000 adults in the UK their views on infrastructure. The highest priorities for investment were given as 43% for renewable energy; 39% for housebuilding and 32% for energy from waste. Then railways (31%), flood defences (30%) and major roads (30%). However, figures were nuclear power projects (19%), airports (8%) and coal and gas power stations (8%). When asked what would increase confidence in the infrastructure sector, respondents said community engagement (41%), consultation (30%), and leadership from politicians (25%) and technical experts (24%). The survey says its “focus groups demonstrated that the public is very positive about the state of the country’s….. airports. In contrast, they are much less positive towards other types of infrastructure, including flood defences and the railways”. 36% regarded airports as highly rated. 49% believed there were not enough safeguards to protect the country’s countryside and natural habitats, with only 6% saying there were too many safeguards for their protection. 58% believed the balance of power is too much in favour of developers’ plans over the wishes of communities, and 6% said the opposite.
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Renewable energy tops our wish list for more national infrastructure

What do we the public want from the new National Infrastructure Commission? Actually many of us want renewable energy.

A recent survey of 2,000 members of the public identified that 43% wanted renewable energy to be our investment priority for the UK , followed by 39% highlighting housebuilding and 32% prioritising energy from waste.

Respondents could select a number of options from a long list, so Railways (31%), flood defenses (30%) and major roads (30%) also scored significantly. However, nuclear power projects (19%), airports (8%) and coal and gas power stations (8%) were towards the bottom of the list, with sports and music venues scoring a lowly 3%.

Page 7 of the report:

The independent survey was led by Copper Consultancy in partnership with Peter Brett Associates and carried out by Icaro.

Lord Adonis, interim chair of the Infrastructure commission, before Phil Graham’s appointment said: “This report is timely and vital. For too long the British people have been forced to put up with chaos, congestion and costs, thanks to successive governments’ failure to build the long-term infrastructure this country needs. So as we establish the independent National Infrastructure Commission, it is clear we have to utterly transform the way we plan and deliver major projects in this country.

“This survey shows that the public want proper investment and planning behind world class developments. But whilst the support is there for real improvement, people rightly demand proper engagement and genuine consultation.

“It is now up to the industry as a whole to take these findings forward and build the broad coalition of support we need to secure the projects of the future.”

When asked what would increase confidence in the infrastructure sector, British people said community engagement (41%), consultation (30%), and leadership from politicians (25%) and technical experts (24%).

Interestingly two in three respondents (67%) said they were interested in being involved in discussions about the future infrastructure needs of their area/region. Perhaps that’s because only 6% think that infrastructure projects in their area are very well coordinated/part of a strategic plan at present.

Phil Graham has just been appointed as head of the new National Infrastructure Commission. The commission was announced on 5th October and is designed to to provide expert independent analysis of the long-term infrastructure needs of the country. Mr Graham led the development of the government’s high speed rail strategy, as well as leading the team supporting Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission and working on the London Olympics.

The commission will publish a National Infrastructure Assessment every Parliament setting out its analysis of the UK’s infrastructure needs over a 10 to 30 year horizon.

“The focus groups demonstrated that the public is very positive about the state of the country’s sporting and music stadiums, as well as airports. In contrast, they are much less positive towards other types of infrastructure, including flood defences and the railways”.

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“These perceptions from the focus groups are confirmed by the quantitative survey which highlights that sports/music stadiums are highly rated (43% say they are ‘very good/among the best in Europe’), along with airports (36%). By contrast, over half (54%) rate the railways as ‘ageing/not good enough’, while a similar proportion (51%) say the same of flood defences. Sizeable proportions of around two in five also rate energy generation/power stations and motorways/major A roads as ‘not great’ (38% and 37%, respectively). Figure 1 shows these results graphically.”

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“For example, almost half (49%) think that there are not enough safeguards to protect the country’s countryside and natural habitats, compared to just 6% who think there are too many (Figure 6). Furthermore, on the balance of power between developers and local communities, almost three in five (58%) think it is too much in favour of developers’ plans over the wishes of communities, compared to 6% who think the reverse (Figure 7). Both of these perspectives are commonly and consistently held across the public with little variation across sub-groups.”

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Figure 6Concerns about over-development and environmental safeguards

49% There are not enough safeguards to protect the country’s countryside and natural habitats

34% There are the right level of safeguards to protect the coutnry’s countryside and natural habitats.

6% There are too many safeguards to protect the country’s countryside and natural habitats.

11% Don’t know.

Base, 2,000 GB adults, aged 18+ June 2015

.Figure 7Perceptions of the balance of power between communities and developers

58% The balance of power is too much in favour of developers’ plans over the wishes of communities

23% There is a good balance between developers’ plans and the wishes of communities

6% The balance of power is too much in favour of communities over developers’ plans